Serious bargain at classic sales

When highly successful Canberra-based trainer Barbara Joseph went to the Inglis Classic Yearling Sales last January, she had inside knowledge.

Joseph is coming back to earth after some of her greatest racing experiences with classy four-year-old mare Ain't Seen Nothin' at the Melbourne spring carnival.

It was her knowledge of Ain't Seen Nothin' that gave her an advantage over rival buyers at the January sales regarding lot 232 - a filly by first-season sire Commands out of Icecapade.

At the time of the sale, Ain't Seen Nothin' had won two races at her home track in Canberra - a maiden on August 30, 2002, and at her next run when resuming in a class two just six days before the Commands filly was to be sold.

"I knew well beforehand that Ain't Seen Nothin' was one of the best horses I've prepared and I went to the Inglis Sales determined to buy her relation, providing she had no glaring problems," Joseph said this week.

"It was funny that very few buyers were aware of Ain't Seen Nothin's recent winning effort and this turned out a bonanza for me as I was able to have her knocked down for $24,000, just $4000 more than Ain't Seen Nothin'."

History has it that after the class two win, Ain't Seen Nothin' continued her winning sequence with another three Canberra wins, including the Guineas on Black Opal Day.

Ain't Seen Nothin' then recorded a superb win in the Keith Nolan Classic (Listed) at Kembla Grange prior to two marvellous Randwick efforts - in the group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes, in which she finished second, and fourth in the group 1 AJC Oaks.

Joseph then set the Melbourne spring carnival as the main target and her charge ran some gallant races, winning the Let's Elope Stakes (Listed) and running fifth in the Caulfield Cup and fourth in the Mackinnon Stakes before the Melbourne Cup, taking her earnings to about $500,000.

While Ain't Seen Nothin' was carrying plenty before her, her three-quarter sister was growing up at Joseph's country properties.

Her first raceday opportunity came at Canberra last Sunday when the filly, racing as Commands Nothin', made her debut in a 1000-metre open two-year-old event. She went straight to the front and won by nearly five lengths to give Commands his third winner of his short career.

"The win was tremendously satisfying with one of Ain't Seen Nothin's owners [Ron Ball] in the syndicate along with five young fellows from Cooma who have never raced a horse before, along with bloodstock insurer Bob Logan and myself," Joseph said.

"Commands Nothin's heading for the [$610,000] Inglis Classic at Randwick next month and I'll run the filly in her lead-up race at Rosehill on December 27. She's pretty smart and I have no doubt she'll be in the final 16 come Inglis Classic day."

Joseph is also delighted with the condition of Ain't Seen Nothin' and has made the $600,000 Coolmore Classic - the only group 1 race in Australia for fillies and mares - her main autumn goal.

BIG FOUR PERFORMERS: William Inglis has released its 2004 classic yearling catalogue with 504 lots listed for sale and proudly boasting the 2003 achievements of past purchases from the January sale.

It highlights the "big four" of local and international racing, which have all added group 1 and 2 wins to strong performances during the year. Bel Esprit (Cost $9000) - won Doomben 10,000 and retired to stud with earnings of $2,073,600. Choisir (Cost $55,000) - won VRC Lightning Stakes, Royal Ascot Golden Jubilee, Royal Ascot Kings Stand (group 2) and VRC Emirates Classic (group 2). Retired to stud with earnings of $2,230,033. In Top Swing ($50,000) - won $1m Caulfield Guineas and $1m Golden Rose with earnings of $1,481,075. Silent Witness ($55,000) - unbeaten in seven starts in Hong Kong, including Sha Tin Vase and International Sprint (both group 2), with earnings of $1,487,743.

The four gallopers collectively have amassed over $7.2m in prizemoney for a $169,000 outlay.

LEADING THE US: Statistics released from the US on the 2003 breeding season reveal that the three stallions that served the most broodmares all hail from Coolmore Stud's US counterpart, Ashford Stud in Kentucky.

Leading the way was Grand Slam with 197 coverings, followed by the shuttle duo Johannesburg (193) and Tale of the Cat (192).

Grand Slam is a son of Gone West and was the leading freshman sire in 2002 with earnings of over $US1 million ($1.3m). Johannesburg is by Hennessy and Tale of the Cat is by Storm Cat, and both are serving capacity books in NSW.

RESEARCH BOOST: William Inglis & Sons has made a major commitment into the Hunter Valley breeding capital of Scone, with a $100,000 donation to the Equine Research Centre as well as purchasing a 15-hectare parcel of land adjacent to the centre that will be developed as a sales complex.

DANEHILL LEADS: Danehill has regained his place at the top of the Australian Stallions lists, overtaking Melbourne Cup-winning sire Desert King. Danehill's earnings up to last weekend are $3,318,796, with Desert King on $3,249,400.